Oblong Quarto album (ca. 17,6x25,6 cm.) 24 album paper leaves (1 blank). With 76 original gelatin silver photographs from ca. 6,1x8,3 cm (2 ½ x 3 ¼ in) to ca. 4,6x6,8 cm (1 ¾ x 2 ¾ in). With the printed “Record of Summit Club” pasted in. At least one photo with black ink caption (English) on verso. Period black full cloth covers with blind-tooled ornaments, fastened with a string; with the gilt-tooled generic title “Photographs” on the front cover.

Historically interesting album with rare amateur photographs, taken and collected by a future Berkeley architect and explorer Judd Boynton (1912-1983) during his early trip to Mount Rainier National Park, Washington.

“Judd Boynton grew up in a famed temple-like family home known as ‘The Temple of the Wings’ in the La Loma Park neighborhood of Berkeley, California. Duncan, the popular dancer of the 1920s, had been a friend of his mother. After graduating from the University of California, Boynton explored the Andes and the Amazon River and later prospected for gold in the Mother Lode Country. He wrote on architecture, astronomy and authored a book of memoirs, which included his recollection of Isadora Duncan.” (The San Francisco Examiner. Aug 18. 1983. P. 4)

As follows from the Record of Summit Club pasted in the album, “Judd Boynton of Berkeley Cal. climbed to the Summit of Mount Rainier with a party of 8 climbers and a licensed guide. Party of 8 left Paradise Valley, elevation 5557 feet at 2’10 o’clock p.m. 7-21 1928, and arrived at the Summit, elevation 14,408 feet at 8’45 o’clock A.M. 7-22 1928. Actual time spent in climbing the peak, 12 hours 5 minutes.”

The collection includes seventy-six early, well-executed photographs, with most of the images likely showing the Mount Rainier National Park. About twelve lively, vernacular photos feature the compiler and the expedition party in climbing gear (uniforms, sunglasses, ropes, and other equipment) posing, resting on rocks, ascending the mountain, pulling ropes, and smiling for the camera. Over twenty photos show the Paradise Valley at Mount Rainier, documenting early views of local landmarks and attractions - the Paradise Guide House, auto lot, camps, redwoods, rivers, and what appears to be Paradise Inn. There’s also a captioned portrait of J. G. (Mendel) Hagedoorn (1912-2000), a noted geophysical researcher, who was apparently friends with the compiler.  The rest of the images mostly include candid moments of Boynton and friends in swimsuits, playing ball, posing for the camera, and enjoying nature.

Overall, historically interesting collection of rare amateur photographs documenting an early trip to Mount Rainier National Park.